Spiritual Parenting In Our Busy, Hyperconnected World
"You will never look back on life and think,
I spent too much time with my kids."
~Kimberely McLeod"
In our busy and hyperconnected world, feeling disconnected has become easy. Why is that? Ironically, with all the amazing methods we have to be more connected, our society has increased anxiety and profound loneliness.
The constant barrage of texts, emails, social media, and the internet can distance us from those we crave connections, causing more stress in our everyday lives. Just because we have more ways to connect does not mean we are connecting.
So, how do we fix or heal this enormous disconnect?
I have seen many families begin to accomplish this by initiating deep connections at home through Spiritual Parenting. The results have been truly transformative, offering hope and optimism for the future of family relationships.
What is Spiritual Parenting?
Spiritual Parenting is the daily practice of helping children connect to love, purpose, self-mastery, and present Moment being.
Love: Love is a cornerstone of Spiritual Parenting. It's about connecting with something you are in awe of, love, and/or respect. Experiencing love could be connecting to nature, grandparents, the Church, feeding the homeless, God, the Divine, or something else. This love inspires and motivates us to foster deep connections with our children.
Purpose: Connecting with something you feel drawn to that feels purposeful and meaningful to your life. Some children find this through sports, music, art, and animals.
Self-mastery: Connecting with something fun and easy for your Child but also presents a challenge, resulting in personal growth. Some children find this through music, martial arts, sports, or scouts!
Being present in the moment is a crucial aspect of Spiritual Parenting. When watching your children, you only need to be there. No striving, no pushing, just your undivided attention. Being present encourages parents to put aside distractions and focus on their children, fostering a deeper connection.
Is Spiritual Parenting Religious?
Spiritual practices are not based on beliefs or religious ideologies but improve and nurture balanced and healthy living. When a parent centers on being present with their Child and intensely recognizes their Child's unique needs, this spiritual connection helps the Child grow spiritually.
Communication is Key!
Everyone wants to overcome a feeling of separateness. Communication increases the high level of connection and decreases the probability of disconnection. While making dinner, shopping, or driving around town can be opportunities to talk, connect, and bring centered awareness to your Child.
Our relationship with technology can become mindless and numbing; it can prevent us from life and living. By taking more notice when children are checked out and checking them back in by communicating, you begin to heal the disconnect and bring presence to their daily lives.
The heart of spirituality is the deliberate effort we can make to overcome our feelings of separateness, loneliness, and lack of purpose. This effort is the heart and soul of Spiritual Parenting. Spiritual Parenting is about regular communication, vulnerability, and heartfelt and presence-filled conversations. If you do this, you've got a good thing going on.